Paper punch press tool



April 7, 1970 A. A. EBERT PAPER PUNCH PRESS TOOL Filed March 18, 1968 INVENTOR. AL 6597' 4. 556K? United States Patent 3,504,436 PAPER PUNCH PRESS TOOL Albert A. Ebert, St. Louis, M0. (205 Palmcrest, Apt. 29, Daly City, Calif. 94015) Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 713,686 Int. Cl. B26f N32 US. Cl. 30358 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand tool for aligning a punch with a point at the intersection of two lines on a paper sheet. A pair of relatively reciprocating handles are provided with a punch and a hollow die. The die has a surrounding transparent eyepiece with lines scribed thereon. Thus, when the lines of eyepiece are aligned with the lines on the sheet, the punch will be positioned at the intersection.

My invention relates to a hand actuated tool for cutting and extruding a paper disc from a sheet, and more specifically to a guide for directing a pre-selective point marked upon the sheet into concentric relation with a hole forming die associated with the tool.

My invention resides in an eyepiece integral with an hand actuated paper punch press tool, said eyepiece being divided into quadrants by inscribed transversing diameter lines, that bi-sect a hole forming die associated with said eyepiece, said diameter lines when disposed in overlapping complementary relation with a second pair of transversing lines provided upon a paper sheet will direct the intersection of the latter said lines into concentric relation with said hole forming die, whereby the disc produced by the cutting action of the tool will have said intersection defined as the center thereof.

As known to me, paper hand punches of the prior art, have failed to provide to the user thereof, a guidance means for precisely producing a paper disc from a sheet having a pre-selective point marked upon the sheet to serve as the center thereof, and further the prior art tools as henceforth mentioned, comprise pivoted jaws that carry in radially and opposed relation a punch and hole forming die respectively, that have a tendency to shift the paper sheet laterally the said composite, as the punch intercepts the sheet when moving in a direction towards the interior of the die, thereby the prior art paper punching tools have proven in-accurate for those persons engaged in the printing, lithographing, and duplicating arts, as well as others.

Therefore, the main object of my invention resides in a means for quickly and easily disposing a pre-marked point upon a paper sheet into concentric relation with a punch press hole forming die.

Another object of my invention resides in a means for resiliently clamping a paper sheet to the hole forming die to facilitate the manual alignment therewith, prior to the cutting operation.

A further object of my invention resides in a means whereby both the punch and die of the tool will be adapted by the action thereof to move to and from each other in axial relation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a punch with a paper punch press tool, that is readily and easily removed from the tool, for the purpose of sharpening its cutting edge, following the extensive use thereof.

Another and important object of my invention is to provide paper stripping means, that is integral with the paper clamping means, whereby a paper sheet will be automatically ejected from the shank of the punch, as following a disc cutting operation therethrough.

A further and important object of my invention is to provide a hand tool of the aforementioned characteristics, that is relatively simple in construction, durable and reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of my invention reside in the details of construction and the operation thereof, as henceforth described and claimed, with reference being had to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of my invention that is shown in side elevation.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view that is taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view in longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, with particular reference being had to both FIGURES l and 3, wherein, the numerals 10 and 11 designate a pair of identical channel shaped elongated elements that are disposed in longitudinally spaced and opposed relation, and which are composed of metal, and herein constituting a pair of hand gripping members. The hand gripping members 10 and 11 are transversed by the pair of plungers 30, 30, each of which being disposed in equally spaced relation from the opposite sides of the medial transverse axis of each respective hand gripping member. The plungers 30, 30, each comprise in combination a respective sleeve member 33, that is secured in weldingly fixed relation at one open end thereof to the medial transverse portion as at 33' of the channeled face 34 of the selective hand gripping member 11, and provided in complementary slid able relation with each respective sleeve member 33 and extensible therefrom, there is provided the respective stem 31, that is secured in weldingly fixed relation at the free end thereof to the medial transverse portion as at 31 of the channeled face 32 of the oppositely disposed hand gripping member 10. The plungers 30, 30, further comprise slidably and in interposed abutting relation with both the free confined end portion of each respective stem member 31, and the secured end portion of each respective sleeve member 33, a helical shaped compression spring 37, that serves to normally bias each respective stem member 31 from each respective sleeve member 33 simultaneously; thereby the hand gripping members 10 and 11 are free to diverge in parallelism following a manually applied squeezing action applied in unison thereabout, and for the purpose of preventing the loss of connection between the hand gripping members 10 and 11 as when diverged by the virtue of the springs 37, 37, respectively, there is provided in the wall of each respective sleeve member 33, the axial slot 35, that serves to limit the travel of a pin 36 that is disposed slidably therein, and which pin 36 extends in lateral fixed relation with each respective stem member 31 at the lower free confined end portions thereof respectively. It now being readily apparent that when the stems 31, 31, are biased in unison by the springs 37, 37, respectively, that the extent of travel of each respective pin member 36 outwardly each respective sleeve member 33, will be limited by the upper transverse wall 36' of each respective slot 35, whereby each transverse wall 36' constitutes a stop.

Further, the hand gripping member 10 includes an integral annulus 14 that extends radially from its inner olfset portion 12 that in itself extends integrally from the inner end portion of the said hand gripping member, in a manner whereby the horizontal plane of the annulus 14 is disposed below and in parallelism with the plane of the longitudinal axis of the said hand gripping member. The annulus 14 is provided with an inturned lateral head flange 15 that serves as a stop to limit the upward travel of a transparent plastic disc 16 of substantial thickness, that is adapted to complement a press fit within the rim flange of the said annulus, and which disc 16 is divided into quadrants by the traversing diameters 17 and 18, that are inscribed in the upper face thereof. The diameters 17 and 18 bisect a hole forming die 20 that includes a cylindrical part 19 and a lower laterally disposed and integral flange 21, and which composite of the said die and said flange are accommodated for a press fit within the counter bored opening 22 that is disposed centrally the discs 16. The intersection of the traversing diameters 17 and 18 serve for a purpose as will henceforth be described.

Disposed axially and in normally spaced relation with the hole forming die 20 there is provided the punch 25 that is adapted to complement slidably and frictionally the inner continuous wall surface of the said die. The punch 25 is provided with a shoulder 27 at the lower end thereof, and which said shoulder being formed by the reduced threaded end portion 26 thereof, and which shoulder 27 serves as an abutment when disposed in bearing relation with the surface of the upper face of a channeled jaw member 24 that extends integrally from the inner offset and integral body portion 13' that in itself extends from the inner free end of the hand gripping mem ber 11, and as illustrated in FIGURE 3 the central and longitudinal axis of the jaw member 24 superposes in parallelism the central and longitudinal axis of the said hand gripping member, and further punch 25 being adapted by means of its said associated threaded end portion 26 to be detachably secured with the jaw wall member 23, as when slidably passed through the complementary aperture 28 provided medially and transversely therethrough, wherein the wall 23 is clamped in interposed relation with both the said shoulder abutment 27 and the laterally disposed integral flange that is provided with the cap nut 29, that in itself is adapted to threadedly complement the extensible end portion of the said threaded portion 26. It being readily apparent that the punch 25 may be quickly and easily removed from the jaw member 24 whereby facilitating the occasional sharpening thereof, as when it is so required through the extensive use of the tool.

Further, the punch 25 is provided in surrounding relation with a conical and helical shaped compression spring 38, wherein the apex thereof complements slidably and frictionally the lower end of the punch 25, and which spring 38 is normally spaced from the plastic disc 16, for a reason to be henceforth described.

The hand gripping members 10 and 11 further include at their respective outer free ends a pair of integral handles 13, 13, respectively, that are disposed in inwardly curved converged relation, and which said handles serve to relax the users hand as when slidably positioned therer in, following the extensive squeezing of the said hand gripping members during the productive use of the paper punch press tool.

In the use and operation of my invention, as henceforth described, and with reference being had to both FIGURES 1 and 2, therein is shown that I provide the paper sheet 41 with transversing lines 42 and 43 that are disposed at right angles about the intersection 44 thereof. The intersection 44 denotes the center of a disc (not shown) that I wish to cut and extrude from the paper sheet 41, it now being apparent that when I slide the paper sheet 41 into interposed relation with both the upper surface of the last convolution 40 of the conoid compression spring 38 and the lower face of the transparent plastic disc 16, I am thereby enabled to slidably secure said paper sheet in interposed relation therewith, as when I apply a slight squeezing action simultaneously upon the hand gripping members 10 and 11, Within the grasp of a selective hand, thereby the composite facilitates the manual alignment of the diametrically disposed lines 17 and 18, simultaneously and selectively with the transversing lines 42 and 43 as provided upon the paper sheet 41, by virtue of the transparent plastic disc 16, and when the former said lines superpose in complementary relation with latter said lines, the intersection thereof will be automatically disposed in concentric relation with said hole forming die 20, thereby the disc surounding the said intersection may be cut and extruded from the paper sheet 41, as when the punch 25 is induced to move in the direction of the die 20 for passing substantially therethrough by increasing the pressure upon the hand gripping members 10 and 11. Further, the conoid compression spring 38 constitutes a paper stripper as when expanding from a converged position in respect to the said punch 25, following a paper punching operation, wherein the paper sheet 41 will be frictionally secured upon the shank of the punch, and through the said inherent action of the said spring 38, and sheet will thereby be forced automatically from the extent of the punch 25, as when the squeezing action is released from the hand gripping members 10 and 11.

Having henceforth described my invention, and the operation thereof what I claim is:

1. A paper sheet punch press tool comprising a pair of elongated longitudinally disposed and opposed channeled shaped identical hand gripping members, a pair of parallel spaced spring loaded plungers disposed in interposed and transversely fixed relation with said hand gripping members adajcent the free ends thereof, and each said plunger being spaced equally from the central transverse axis of the opposed channeled faces associated with said hand gripping members respectively, whereby said hand gripping members are adapted to move yieldingly and in parallelism to and from each other by virtue of said plungers, an annulus having an inturned laterally disposed flange, said annulus being disposed forwardly and radially from an integral inwardly offset intermediate body portion, that extends integrally from the inner free end of a selective hand gripping member, wherein the axis thereof superposes in parallelism the horizontal plane of said annulus, a transparent plastic disc of substantial thickness provided with a central opening, and a counterbore through the lower face thereof, said plastic disc being divided into quadrants within the opposite face thereof and adapted for press fitting relation with said annulus, wherein the transversing diameters defined by said quadrants are disposed in contiguous relation with said head flange, a hole forming die adapted for press fitting relation with said plastic disc inwardly said opening, said hole forming die being provided with an integral lower lateral flange, said flange adapted for press fitting relation therewith, and in bearing relation with the counter-sunk wall defined by said counterbore, a punch adapted for a slidable frictional fit substantially through said die, said punch having a shoulder at the lower end portion thereof, said shoulder being defined by a reduced threaded terminal portion ex tending dependingly therefrom, said punch being disposed in axial relation withsaid die, and normally spaced therefrom, a jaw detachably secured to said punch in transverse relation, by virtue of said threaded terminal portion, said jaw being disposed forwardly from an inwardly oflset intermediate integral body portion, that extends integrally from the oppositely disposed hand gripping member, resilient clamping means provided with said punch, said clamping means being normally spaced from the underside of said plastic disc, and adapted to secure a paper sheet in interposed relation with said underside of said plastic disc, as when said clamping means is manually urged to move thereagainst by virtue of said hand gripping members, said paper sheet being provided with transversing lines, complementary to said diametrically disposed lines, whereby the former said lines when aligned into complementary relation with the latter said lines by visual observation through said plastic disc will serve as a guide for directing the intersection of the former said lines into concentric relation with said hole forming die, paper stripping means integral with said clamping means, whereby said paper sheet is automatically rejected from the shank of said punch, as when said punch is urged to move outwardly from the interior of said die, by virtue of said plungers, yieldable securing means provided with said plungers to obviate the loss of connection between said hand gripping members as when disposed in normally diverged relation, and hand relaxing means provided in tegrally with the opposite free ends of said hand gripping members respectively, whereby the user may retain the tool during the alternate use thereof, within the closed grip of a selective hand.

2. As claimed in claim 1, wherein the paper clamping means comprises a helical conoid compression spring, having the frustum thereof disposed in press fitting surrounding relation with the shank of said punch, and in bearing relation with the upper face of said punch jaw, with the upper convolutions of said spring being disposed above the extent of said punch and normally spaced from said plastic disc, whereby a paper sheet may be readily interposed therebetween, and by virtue of said hand gripping members, as when slightly converged, the inherent action of said spring will slightly compress said paper sheet against the underside of said plastic disc, thereby facilitating the alignment thereof in respect to said plastic disc, by its slidable secured relation therewith.

3. As claimed in claim 2, wherein said conoid compression spring serves as a paper stripping means by the inherent diverging action thereof, as when said punch is retracted from said hole forming die.

4. As claimed in claim 1, wherein the yieldable securing means provided with each of the said plungers to prevent the loss of connection between the pair of hand gripping members, comprises an axial slot provided in the wall of each respective sleeve member as associated with each respective plunger, said sleeve member being adapted to slidably confine a pin therein that extends later-ally and in fixed relation with each respective stem member associated with said plungers, whereby the extent of movement of each respective stem member in respect to each respective sleeve member outwardly therefrom, is limited by the upper transverse wall of each respective slot, as when said pin abuts said wall.

5. As claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand relaxing means as associated integrally with the outer free ends of said hand gripping members respectively, comprises a pair of arcuately converging handles having their outer free ends normally spaced form each other, and in contiguous relation, as when said hand gripping members are fully converged by said manually applied squeezing action served thereabout.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1916 Farrow 30-358 12/1916 Fegley 30358 636,815 5/1950 Great Britain.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner J. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner U.S. c1. X.R. 30 30368 

